Wire-fence machine



Dec. 28 1926.

W. H. SOMMER WIRE FENCE MACHINE Filed August 6, 19173 12 Sheets-Sheet IH'SZERTEJE...

Dec. 28, 1926.

W. H. SOMMER WIRE FENCE MACHINE Filed August 6, 1923 12 Sheets-Sheet 2 Imvzmrms-z...

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W. H. SOMMER WIRE FENCE MACHINE Dec. 28, 1926. 1,612,160

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12 Sheets-Sheet 5 W H SOMMER WIRE FENCE MACHINE Filed August -6,

Dec. 28 I926.

Dec. 28 I926.

W. H. SOMMER WIRE FENCE MACHI NE Filed August 6, I923 12 Sheets-Sheet 6,

Dec. 28 1926.

W. H. SGMMER WIRE FENCE MACHINE 12 Shets-Sheet 7 Filed August 6, 1023 I l I I In a; 1 E

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w. H. SOMMER WIRE FENCE MAUI-XI NE Filed August 6, 191? 12 Sheets-Sheet 8- Dec. 28, 1926. 1,612,160

W. H. SOMMER WIRE FENCE MACHINE Filed August 6 1923 12 Sheets-Sheet a :LHYEN'IDR.

Dec. 28. 1926. 1,612,160

W. H. SOMMER WIRE FENCE MACHINE Filed August 6, U323 12 Sheets-Sheet 1O l-numm mlmuumiru Mimlnuwmm I if-=7 INVERTER.

Dec. 28 1926.

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W. H. SUMMER WIRE FENCE MACHINE Filed August (5, 19?? 12 Sheets-Sheet 12 Patented Dec. 28, 1926.

tlhtl'ftifi STATES WILLIAM H. SUMMER, OF PEORIA, ILLINOIS.

WIRE-FENCE MACHINE.

Application filed. August 6, 1923. Serial No. 655,872.

This invention has reference to wire fence machines, and particularly to fence machines for making farm or poultry fences comprising longitudinal line or strand wires and vertical stay or picket wires, the latter preferably including short sections of stays severed from stay-feed-wires, their meeting ends intertwisted or intercoiled about the intermediate line wires, whereas the upper and lower ends of the top and bottom stay-sections are coiled or wrapped around the marginal or selvage line wires.

The invention has for one of its objects to provide sets or series of depressors for the stavsections to move the same into position to be coiled or wrapped by the coiling or wrappin spindles on the line wires, one set or series of depressors also acting as cutters for severing the stay-sections from the stayfeed-wires.

The invention has for a further object to provide an improved feeding means for the stay-feed-wires, whereby shorter or longer lengths of wires may be fed from which the top and bottom sections of stays are provided, as the height of fence to be made is changed. It being understood that different heights of fence are made on the same machine and the top and bottom sections of stays require more wire for the wraps on the marginal or selvage wires, than is required on the intermediate line wires.

A further object of the invention is in the new arrangement and disposition of the feeding rollers for the stay-feed-wires to provide for the feeding of said wires across the width of the fabric whereby the successive stay-sections are fed to the succeeding spaces between the strands across the width of the fence.

A further object of the invention is the new and improved means for applying a friction grip between the feed rolls of the sta v-feed-wires.

A further object of the invention is the improved friction gripping means for holding the stay-sections in position after severing and while the ends of the adjacent sections are being interwrapped or intercoiled around the line or strand wires, and to the improved bushings for the tubes through which the stay-feed-wires are fed and which are associated with the cutters and depressors.

A still further object of the invention is the new and improved cutters and depressors and the adjustment for the same on their pivotal supports; the cutters being struck on an arc of a circle, the center of which is the shaft carrying the cutter supports, the cutters by reason of their are shape being always ad just-able to position to cut the stay-feed-wires and to engage the stay-sections out there from when acting as depressor-s for positioning the sections on the collars.

Uther and various objects will more fully appear in the following description.

That the invention may be more fully understood, reference is had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the de scription, illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention, in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a fence machine, embodying my invention, on a greatly reduced scale, looking at that side of the machine supporting the motor and disclosing the driving mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the machine on the same scale as Fig. 1, but of the opposite side and on which is supported the stayfeed-wire feeding means;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the machine looking in at the right hand end of Fig. 1 and the left hand end of Fig. 2 and being on the same scale as said figures, the stayfeed-wire feeding means which would appear at the right hand side of the machine being removed, and for convenience, the stay-attaching mechanism is limited to five line or strand wires including the selvage wires, which it will be understood may be provided in whatever numbers it is desired to provide strand or line wires for the fence fabric;

Fig. 4: is a' somewhat enlarged side elevation of the stay-feed-wire feeding means and operating mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a detailed sectional elevation as the same would appear if taken on the line 5-5 Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a detailed sectional View as the same would appear if taken on the line 6-6 Fig. 4;

Fig. '2' is a view similar to Fig. 6 except that the plate supporting the ratchet pawl in Fig. 6 is removed;

Fig. 8 is a detailed sectional view as the same would appear on the line 8--8 Fig. 4;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the front portion of the machine which supports the table carrying the coilers, the cutters or cutters and depressors and operating means therefor as well as the feeding means for the stayfeed-wires;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged detail in plan partly broken away and partly in section showing a portion of the table of machine with a pair of coilers, the feeding tubes for the stayfeed-wires and the clamps for the staysections on the table;

Fig. 11 is an enlarged vertical sectional detail view as the same would appear if taken on the line 1l11 Fig. 9 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged vertical sectional detail view as the same would appear if taken on the line 12-12 Fig. 9 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged vertical sectional detail view as the same would appear if taken on the line 131-3 Fig. 9 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. h is an enlarged detail view in elevation and partly in section, as the same would appear if taken on the line 14 n. Fig. 10 looking in the direction of the ar rows;

Fig. 15 is a detail in section as the same would appear if taken on the line 1515 Fig. 14 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 16 is a detailed sectional view as the same would appear if taken on the line 1o1(3 Fig. 10 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 17 is a detailed sectional view in perspective as the same would appear if taken on the line 17-17 Fig. 14 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 18 is a detailed perspective view of the split end of the bushing which receives the tube for the stay-fecd-wire shown in Fig. 16;

Fig. 19 is a detailed sectional view in elevation as the same would appear if taken on. the line 1919 Fig. 5 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 20 is a sectional detail in plan, as the same would appear if taken on the line 20-80 Fig. 19 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 21 is a detail in side elevation as the same would appear if taken on the line 21-21 Fig. 20 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 22 is a view somewhat similar to Fig. 21 and parts thereof, as the same would appear if taken on the line 2222 Fig. 20 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 23 is a detailed sectional view as the same would appear if taken on the line 23-23 Fig. 21 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figs. 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 and 29 show 'respectively in plan and in elevation the successive steps of feeding the stay sections and severing and coiling the ends thereof around the line wires;

Fig. 80 is a detail in elevation of a coiler head as the same would appear looking at the coiler shown in Fig. 24, on the line 3030 of said figure;

Fig. 31 is a detail of the feeding rollers for the stay-feed-wires showing how long and short sections may be fed from the top and bottom stay sections;

Fig. 232 is an elevation of a section of a fence such as made on the machine, and

Fig. is an edge view of Fig. 32.

Like characters of reference denote corresponding parts thruout the figures.

Referring to the drawings what I term as the table or bed of the machine supporting the coiling mechanism, cutters and cutters or depressors for the stay-feed-wire feeding means, is designated 1.. This table rests and is carried upon supports 2 at or near its opposite ends and said supports are preferably mounted upon a base comprising the front channel beam 3 and the side channel beams t which are suitably connected and braced to make a rigid base for the machine. Additional frame structure includes the up right beams 5 located at or near the rear ends of the beams t connected by a crosshead 6; the brace frames 7 connected by the cross-bracev 8 and the inclined brace frame 9 connecting and bracing table or bed 1 and the supporting frame structure at or near the rear of the machine and at or near'one side thereof, see Figures 3 and 9, which is for the purpose of adding additional strength to the frame at the transmission side of the machine, and such a frame part, as will be seen, is omitted from the opposite sideof the machine, as not being necessary and also to leave an open way at one end of the table or bed and between the same and the rear upright supports to enable an operator to pass therebetween and to stand in the rear of the table or bed 1.

Machines such as herein described are selfcontained and carry their own motor or prime mover, which is designated 10 and is mounted on a platform 11 carried by the base of the machine; she motor shaft having preferably connected thereto a sprocket wheel 12 operating a sprocket chain 13 en-- gaging and driving a. sprocket wheel let on what will be referred to as a spiral gear driving shaft 15 located beneath and extending longitudinally of the table or bed 1 and jOUT- naled in suitable bearing supports 16 con nected thereto and preferably connected by the tie bar 17, see Figures 3 and 12, and which also forms a bearing for bushings in Which are journaled the lower ends of coiling spindles, to be referred to, the latter passing up through and rotating within the table or bed 1. The spiral gear driving Ill) shaft has connected thereto a spur pinion 18, between which and the sprocket wheel 1 is located a suitable clutch mechanism 19 under the control of an operator through an operators rod and a lever 21. It is to be understood that the sprocket wheel it is operated continuously when the motor 10 is in operation and that the motor through the sprocket wheel is connected to the spiral gear driving shaft 15 at the will of the operator, who upon the actuation of the operators rod 20 may make a connection between the clutch 19 associated with a sprocket wheel a 14 and the spur pinion 18. The clutch mechanism is of the usual and ordinary type and is well understood in the art and its application to power of this kind and thereiioi'e need not be detailed. The spur pinion 18 meshes with and is adapted to drive a similar gear wheel 22 connected to and adapted to operate what I will refer to as a cam shaft 23; said shaft extending longitudinally of and below the plane of the table or bed 1 and journaled in suitable bearings connected with the supports 2. The spiral gear oriving shaft in addition to the bearing supports described also passes through and has a bearing in one of the supports 2 and also has a journal bearing at one end in a support 24-. at one side of the machine on the base.

The ceiling spindles which are preferably arranged at graduated distances apart in the table or bed 1 and of a number to correspond to the line or strand wires of a fence fabric to be'made on the machine comprise the tubular spindles 25 rotating in bushings 26 arranged at the top and bottom ends of vertically disposed openings 27 arranged in the table or bed 1. Such spindles terminate with the top face of the table or bed 1 and are enlarged as shown in Fig. 13 and internally threaded to receive the threaded stems 28 of coiling heads 29. Threading the heads in the stems makes it possible to easily and conveniently remove the heads 29 from the spindles for replacement or for any other purpose. The spindles pass through and below the table or bed 1 and at a suitable point below the table or bed are journaled in bushings 30 which are carried in the tie bar 17 connected to the bearing blocks 16 and the lower ends of the spindles are threaded and engaged by nuts 31 for locking the spindles in position. On the spindles 25 and interposed between the tie-bar 17 and the lower face of the table or bed 1 are carried spiral pinions 32 which mesh with and are rotated by spiral gear wheels 33 carried on the spiral gear driving shaft 15, see Figures 12 and 13. The strand wires A which may be fed from suitable spools or reels, not shown, pass around a guiding roller 34 disposed at the base of the machine and thence up and through the tubular spindles 25 and through axially disposed openings in the coiling heads 29 and thence to a take-up mechanism, crimping roller, and wrapper or winding drum, to be described. The coiling heads 29 have oppositely disposed and oppositely and downwardly tapered grooves which form seats between shoulders 36 to receive the ad jacent ends of stay-sections C which by the coiling heads are intercoiled or interwrap 'ied around the strand or line wires A somewhat as shown in the series of views 2 1 to 29 both inclusive.

As explained, the spiral gear driving shaft is arranged to be connected with and disconnected from the motor 10 through the clutch means 19 shown and when said shaft 15 is so connected it rotates continuously and with it. the spiral gears 33 which in turn transmits continuous rotation to the coiling spindles 25 and the coiling heads 29 through the inter-position of the spiral pinions 2-32 in mesh with said spiral gears 33.

The take-up mechanism for the wire fabric to which reference has been made comprises a roller 37 disposed in a horizontal position at a suitable point above the table or bed 1 which at its opposite ends is journaled in the forward ends of beams 88 which are pivotally connected at their rear ends at 39 in suitable brackets connected to the upper end of the rear frame structure, and to suitable brackets connected to the forward ends of the beams 38 are pivotally connected vertically disposed rods or connecting bars or pitmans 40 which at their lower ends are connected by eccentrics 41 with the cam shaft 23, see Figures 11 and 12. It will thus be apparent from the description thus far, that as the cam shaft 23 is rotated the bars or rods 10 will be reciprocated and in turn impart oscillatory movement to the beams 38 and as the latter rise the roller 37 will pull the strand wires A and the fabric of which they form a part in a vertical direc' tion to provide for the successive placing and attachment of stay-wires, composed of the stay-sections C; to said strand wires. Inasmuch as the stay-wires may be placed 6, 9 or 12 inches apart the eccentrics 41 will be adjusted on the cam shaft 23 to impart oscillatory movement to the beams 38 to pull the strand wires A through the coilers the distance it is desired to space and attach the stay-sections thereto.

A crimping drum or clamp of suitable design and construction is designated 12 and is carried by a shaft 13 journaled in suitable brackets secured to the upstanding frame structure at or near the rear of the machine, see Figures 1 and 2 and to said shaft is connected a large gear wheel 14 which meshes with smaller gear wheels 4-5 and 46. The said last mentioned gear wheels are connected re spectively with drum shafts 1? and 48 which are journaled in suitable bearing supports connected to said upstanding frame structure. To the drum shaft 48 is connected a sprocket wheel 19 and also a large pulley wheel 50. To the former is connected a sprocket chain 51 which receives its power from a small sprocket pinion 52 connected to the cam shaft 23, the back run of said sprocket: chain passing over an idler sprocket wheel 53, see Figure 1 for the purpose of keeping said chain under tension. It is thru said sprocket chain 51 that power is imparted from the cam shaft 23 to the drum shaft 48 and thru the gear wheel 16 thereon to the crimping roller or clamp shaft 43 and it is through the drum shaft 418 and the pulley wheel thereon that power is imparted to the winding drum or reel 5-1 on a shaft journaled at its opposite ends in suitable bearings connected with the frame of the machine. The fence fabric passes from the take up roll 37 under a drum 56 on the drum shaft 17, to and around the crimping drum or clamp 12 and thence over drum 57 on the shaft 18 and to the winding reel or drum 5%, as best seen in Figures 1 and 2. To rotate the winding drum or reel 51- there is connected to a shaft a large pulley wheel 58 engaged by a belt 59 which is operated by the pulley wheel 50 on the drum shaft 18 and a proper tension placed on the belt 59 by the guiding roller 60 which is yieldingly retained in operative position by means of a spring 61, the roller 60 being journaled at its opposite ends in upstanding pivoted supports (32, to which are connected links 63 having a pivotal connection with arms of a lever 6-1 fulcrumed at to a suitable frame support. The connection just described and best seen in Fig. 1 functions like a toggle connection so that it may be locked in two extreme positions to which the lever 64 may be moved. In the position in which the parts are shown in Fig. 1 the roller 60 is in a position to place tension on the belt 59 so that through its frictional contact with the pulley wheels 50 and 58 power may be im-.

parted from the shaft 48 to the shaft 55, the parts being frietionally held in proper position by means of the spring 61 carried by a rod 65, one end of which has a pivotal connect-ion with one of the supports 62 and a slidable connection through a bracket 66 on the base frame of the machine. When the lever 6-1 is pulled down to raise the links 63 and move the supports 62 with the roller 60 in the direction of table or bed 1 of the machine the belt 59 is released stopping the rotation of the winding shaft 55 and at the same time compressing the spring 61 which when the lever 6% is moved to the operating position the spring 61 assists in returning the parts to normal active position to place a tension on the belt 59 and cause the same to have a frictional driving relation with the pulley wheels 50 and 58. During the operation of the machine in the manufacture of wire fence fabric the parts last described assume the position shown in Fig. 1 for the purpose of winding the completed fabric on the winding reel or drum 54 and then when the given number of rods of fabric have been made and wound on the drum 54;, to remove the drum and the roll of fence the lever 64 is moved to an inoperative and inactive position to permit such removal of the roll of wire, of course only after the strand wires A have been severed from the roll of fence. The crimping drum or clamp 42 draws the complete fabric over the roller 37 as the take-up draws the strand wires through the coilers, the drums 56 and 57 being located in front thereof to directthe wires of the fabric therearound and the proper crimping of the strand wires to provide for the expansion and contraction due to heat and cold and the winding reel or drum winds the completed fabric in unison both with the take-up mechanism and the clamp and crimping drum whereby proper tension is placed upon the fabric at all times.

The table or bed 1 on opposite sides of a line extending longitudinally therethru and intersecting the axis of the coilers is provided with front and rear recessed faces or grooves 67 and 68 and lying within said recesses or grooves and extending longitudinally of the table or bed are rock shafts 69 and 70 which are journaled in suitable bearing blocks 71 and 72 suitably secured to the top of the table or bed and disposed within the recesses or grooves referred to, see Figures 12 and 13. These rock-shafts may be termed depressor shafts, and the shaft 70 designated a depressor and cutter shaft, as it functions both as a depressor and as a cutter shaft. see Fig. 9. To one end of the said shafts 69 and 70, preferably those ends of the shafts adjacent the transmission side of the machine are connected crank arms 7-3 and 74, the former extending in the direction of the rock-Shaft 70 and being pivotally connected to the crank arm 7% by means of a link (5 which has connection with a short arm extension or car 76 extending from the crank arm 71 in the direction of the rock-shaft 69 and partially overlying the inner end of the crank arm 73, see Figures 9 and 11. The crank arm 74, being the arm through which movement is transmitted to the rock-shafts 69 and 70,.

extends rearwardly and downwardly from the rock-shaft 70 and has connected with its lower end a roller 77 which rides on the periphery of a cam 78 connected to the cam shaft 23, see Figures 11 and 12. To yieldingly hold the crank arm 741 with its roller 77 in contact with the cam 78 a spring 79 is provided carried on a rod 80 between plates 81 and 82, the latter having a rocking connection with the crank arm 74, said rod 80 passing through the crank arm feed-wires 74 and having a suitable connection-with the frame of the machine, see Figure 12.

To the rock-shafts 69 and 70 are connected bracket arms 83 and 84, the former having connected thereto depressor bars 85 and the latter having connected thereto combined depressor and cutter bars 86. Each of the bars 85 and 86 having a notched end 8?, see Figure l-l adapted to provide a seat for the stay-feed-wire B, as the depressors are moved inwardly and downwardly to engage and press the severed stay-sections C on to the coiling heads 29 of thecoiling spindles. The bracket arms 83 and 84: are identically the same throughout and the description of one therefore will suffice for all. To each bracket arm is detachably connected, by neans of bolts 87 a cap plate 88 and the meeting faces of the bracket arm and the cap plate on opposite sides and opening out of the side faces of the bracket arm and the cap plate are provided with complementary wedge shaped grooves or slots 89 in which the depressor bar or depressor and cutter bar is removably and adjustably carried, as best seen in Figures 14: and 15. As shown in Figures 12, 13 and, It the depressor bars and depressor bars and cutters are curved and conform to the wedge shaped grooves or slots 89 which are likewise curved and struck on an arc of a circle, the center of which is the axis of the rock-shaft to which the same are connected. lVear upon the notched ends 8'? of the depressor bars and depressor bars or cutters will require their being dressed down and sharpened necessitating the adjustment of such bars in their supports which is accomplished by releasing and tightening the bolts 87 and it may be necessary for various reasons to remove a depressor bar or depressor bar and cutter and replace the same in adjusted positions and this is accomplished in the same manner by releasing and tightening up the bolts 87. The depressor bars or depressor bars and cutters, as will be apparent, oscillate with the rock-shafts 69 and 70 and being curved or are shaped, as shown, approach and engage the star-feed-wircs B and the ends of the stay-sections C out therefrom, at always the same point and insure the accurate cutting oil of the stay-sections C from the stay- B and the placing of the staysections C on the coiling heads 29of the coilii'ig spindles.

The stay-feed-wires B are fed into and cross-wise of the machine and the strand wires passing up therethru by a plurality of sets of feed rollers, after first passing over guiding rollers disposed at a suitable inclination in relation to said feed rollers. Each set of feed rollers includes a grooved roller and the supports are substantially the same th description of one and its relation to a grooved roller will suffice for all. The roller 92 preferably ball-bearing as shown in Figure and is journaled in a frame comprising spaced parallel connected bars 93. When assembled in the machine the frame for the roller 92 is slidable in guides 94 arranged in a frame 95 at one side of the machine frame. To one end of the roller frame is pivotally connected a threaded rod 96 which is adjustable in the frame 95 and on the rod carried a spring 97 the tension of which may be adjusted by the nuts 98 and the position of that end of the roller frame thereby adjusted in relation to the groove roller 90. Also adjustable in the frame 95 is a set screw 99 provided with a lock nut 99', the lower end of said screw being adapted to engage with a block 100 within the roller frame, said set screw acting as a positive setting for one end of the roll-er frame; all adjustment for tension being made on the pivoted rod 96. As shown in the drawings the rods 96 and the screws 99 are alternately disposed which allows for close spacing of the parts and yet provides working room to get to such parts. in other words it will be apparent from the last mentioned description of the roller 92, its supporting frame and adjusting means, that the roller framemay be adjusted so as to cause the'roller 92 to hear more or less in frictional engagement with the stay-feedwire to be fed by the coacting rollers 90 and 92 and that more or less pressure may be applied through the threaded rod 96 to cause more or less impinging relation of the roller 92 with the stay-feed-wire. The successive grooved rollers 90 are each larger in diameter than the preceding roller; see Figures t and 19, which, as will be understood, is to provide for feeding variable lengths of stay-sections; such sections being shorter at the lower side of the fabric or bottom of the fence than they are at the upper side of the fabric or top of the fence, see Figurestl and 30. Therefore, the successive coacting rollers 92 and the guiding supportug frames will be successively located at different elevations in the guiding frame 95, as shown in Figure 19'and because of the dif ference in diameter of the successive grooved rollers 90 the guiding rollers 103 which are carried on a shaft 10% outside of theguiding frame are disposed at an incline in relation to the grooved feeding rollers 90, as best seen in Figures l and 5 so as to properly position and guide the stay-feed-wires B through guiding tubes 105 at the entrance side of the machine and the guiding frame 95 so as to deliver the stay-feed-wires from the guiding tuaes 105 to the coacting roll-- ers 90 and 92 and thence to other guiding tubes 106, tl e receiving ends of which are within the guiding frame 95 at a point adjacent where the stav-feed-wires leave the rollers and 92 and passing out through the guiding frame 95 extend to points on the table or bed in proximity to the coilers, as best seen in Figures 9 and 10.

The grooved feeding rollers 90 for the stay-feed-wires B are intermittently operated from the cam-shaft 23, as follows: to the cam-shaft is connected a crank arm 107, see Figures 4: and 5 and said crank arm has a pivotal connection with a block 108 slidable in a cross-head 109 which is vertically reciprocally movable in guides 110 of a housing or casing 111 secured to the machine frame at one end of the table or bed 1, as best seen in Figures 2, 1 and 5. The crosshead is formed with or has connected thereto an upstanding bar 112, the upper portion of which is formed or provided with a rack bar 113 and movable in a guide housing 114. The rack bar has a meshing relation with a gear wheel 115 which is loosely carried 011 the grooved roller shaft 91 and secured to said shaft adjacent said gear wheel is a ratchet wheel 116, formed preferably with two teeth, see Figure 7, and pivotally connected to the side of the gear wheel and adapted to engage said teeth is a ratchet pawl 117 yielding'ly held in contact with said ratchet wheel by a spring 118 in manner shown in Figures 6 and 7, it being preferable to carry the ratchet pawl 117 between the gear wheel and the plate 119 on the shaft 91 and connect the plate to the gear wheel in manner shown in Figures 6 and 7. It will thus be apparent that with each revolution of the cam shaft 23 and rotation of the crank arm 107 that the rack bar 113, through the connections described, will he alternately reciprocated up and down and through the intermeshing relation of the rack bar with the gear wheel 115 the latter will be oscillated on the shaft 91 and when oscillated in one direction will he ineffective so far as movement of the shaft 91 is concerned but when oscillated in the opposite direction will impart rotative movement to the shaft 91 through the connection of the ratchet pawl 117 with said gear wheel which will engage with a tooth of the ratchet wheel 116 and move the shaft 91 therewith. Such rotation of the shaft 91 will impart rotative movement to the grooved feeding rollers 90 and such rollers coacting with the rollers 92 will feed the stay-feed-wires B the distance required to furnish or supply stock for the stay-sections C severed therefrom.

In Figure 81 I have shown one of the grooved rollers 90 with two angular grooves 90 and 90 the latter of greater diameter than the former. The explanation for this is as follows: In machines provided with more than seven sets of feed rollers 90 and 92 provision is made for manufacturing different heights of fence, by cutting out certain of the sets of feed rollers. hen changing the height of fence provision must be made to feed the extra lengths of staysections for the top of the stays or pickets to be wrapped or coiled around the top selvage or marginal wire. The same provision could be made should it be found desirable to change the spacing between the line wires at the bottom of the fence. the grooved rollers 90 above the seventh roller from the bottom of the fence are preferably double grooved rollers, as shown in Figure 31.

Secured to the table or bed 1 intermediate the coiler and in front of the coiler nearest to the infeed of the stay-feed-wires are guiding blocks 120 each of which, with the exception of the one last mentioned, is provided with ball-olamps 121 which are adapted to hold the stay-sections during the coiling operations in a manner to be further described. The guide blocks are preferably bolted to the top surface of the table or bed 1, as shown in Figures 9 and 10 and are formed or provided with lips or angular portions 122 fitting in a groove 123 in the table or bed 1, whereby the blocks may be rigidly held in position against lateral movement, see Figures 10 and 1a. Said guide blocks are provided with wire grooves 123 extending therethru and opening out of the upper surfaces thereof, which said grooves at the entrance end of the guide blocks are preferably funnel shape as at 124 to guide the stay-feed-wires into and through the grooves. The ball-clamps 121, of which there are a plurality in each guide block, are carried in tubular openings 12% in the guide blocks which intersect the wire grooves 123, as best seen in Figures 11 and 14, and said ball clamps are yieldingly held at their inner ends in position to yieldingly engage with the stay-feed-wires, as shown in Figure 14, by means of coil springs held in place by means of the threaded plugs 126 which are adapted to be adjusted to increase or decrease the tension in the springs 125.

The guiding tubes 106 from the stay-feedwires feeding means connect respectively with the successive guide blocks 120 beginning with the one nearest the infeed of the stay-feed-wires, with the exception of the last guide block, as shown in Figure 9. Each of the guide blocks 120 with the exception of the first, hereinbefore referred to, is formed or provided with an offset shoulder or extension portion 127 with which a guiding tube 106 connects, said offsets or extensions having openings 12S therethrough in which are secured split bushings 129, see Figures 16 and 18, in the split ends of which are inserted the wire guiding tubes 106. The split bushings are formed with a longitudinal recess 130 disposed at right angles to Therefore, all

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the split portions of the bushings to receive set screws 131 for securing the bushings in position and holding them against rotation and one of said set screws engages the said bushings to one side of the split portion thereof for the purpose of clamping the guiding tube Within said bushing. The arrangement of the guiding blocks 120, with the exception of the first herein above mentioned, is to receive and guide a pair of stay feed-wires from which staysections are severed, the meeting ends of two adjacent sections lying in or on a corresponding coiler head and on opposite sides of a strand wire to be intercoiled or interwrapped around said strand wire; whereas the ends of the respective outside stay-sections are wrapped or coiled by the end coilers around the respective marginal or selvage wires of the fence, best seen in Figures 9 and 10. In other words, one stay-feed-wire is directed through the first guiding block 120 across the top coiling head for the marginal or selvage wire, thence through a groove 128 in the nextadjacent guide block and across the first intermediate coiling head on one side of an intermediate strand wire and stopping at the next guide block below a depressor 85; another stay-feed-wire is carried through the offset or extension 127 of the first inter- I mediate guide block 120, under a cutter and depressor 86, across the first intermediate coiler on the opposite side of the strand wire last mentioned, and through the wire groove 123 in the next adjacent intermediate wire guiding block 120 and across the head of the next intermediate coiler, in like manner as that previously described for the first mentioned stay-feed-wire. This operation is carried on for all of the stay-feedwires, as shown in Figure 9, to provide stay-sections crossing the spaces between the line or strand wires of the fence, including the marginal or selvage wires and to provide for intercoiling or interwrapping the ends of adjacent stay-sections around the intermediate strand wires and for coiling the ends of the outside stay-section around the marginal or selvage wires. The split bushings 129 each serve as one element of a cutter which coacts with the combined cutters and depressors 86, previously referred to, and which as shown in Figures 9 and 10, coact with all of the guide blocks 120, with the exception of the one farthest from the in feed of the stay-feed-wires to sever from the stayfeed-wires stay-sections and to depress the same into or on the coiling heads; the depressors 85 acting upon the forwardly fed ends of the stay-sections which are passed through the grooves 128 of the guide blocks 120 to depress the same into or on the coiler heads, whereby the intermediate coilers may cause the overlapped and meeting ends of adjacent stay-sections to be interwrapped or intercoiled around the intermediate line wires and the outside ends of the outside stay sections to be coiled or wrapped around the marginal or selvage wires. The guide block nearest the inf'eed of the stay-feed-wires has its guide tube 106 connected in a split bushing 129 of the character herein and above referred to, as is shown in dotted lines in FigurelO. As is apparent, the split bushings 129 are conveniently and quickly removable from the guide blocks 120 by releasing the set screws 181 either when it is desired to dress the cutting ends of said bushings or to replace the same for any reason whatever. At this point it is well to make further reference to the object of the pairs of wedge shaped slots or grooves 89 in the supports for the cutters 85 and 86, see Figure 15. In a fence with very close spacings of the wires it would be impossible to provide a support for each cutter and therefore the supports are provided with grooves to receive the cutters on opposite sides thereof, and furthermore it makes the supports interchangeable even when they are used with a sufficient spacing between the wires to use one support for each cutter. After the coiling operation and the pull-out is operated to advance the fabric the distance it is desired to place another stay or picket, as the fabric is moved upwardly, the ball-clamps 121 will yield to the upward movement and permit the sections forming the stay-wires to be withdrawn from the wire grooves 123 of the guiding blocks 120, as will be understood.

In the operation of the machine, it has been stated that the spiral gear driving shaft 15 is continuously rotated, when in operation, in'iparting a like movement to the coiling spindles 27 through the spiral gearing described. To depress the stay-section C on to the coiling heads said depressors must be timed in their movement relative to the coiling spindles to insure the deposit of the ends of the stay-sections into the grooved or slotted heads of said spindles and such timing is likewise true of the feeding in of the stayfeed-wires B and the pull-out for the finished fence or fabric. These latter elements as will be understood are all controlled from the cam shaft 23 through the mechanism referred to and in the manner described, said cam shaft functioning as a timing shaft.

What I claim is 1. In a wire fence machine, coilers, operating means therefor, grooved stay-feed rollers, vertically slidable frames, rollers carried by the frames and cooperating with the feed rollers, tensioned means pivo-tally connected to one end of each of the frames, and adjustable means at the other end of each frame for varying the degree of pressure exerted by the roller of the frame on the stay.

2. In a Wire fence machine, coilers, operating means therefor, grooved stay-feed rollers, vertically slidable frames, rollers carried by the frames and cooperating with the feed rollers, a vertically disposed slidable spring tensioned rod pivotally connected at its lower end to one end of the frame, means to adjust the extent of downward sliding move ment of the rod, a vertically adjustable set screw, and an abutment on the opposite end of the frame to engage the lower end of the set screw whereby to regulate the degree of pressure exerted by the roller of the frame on the stay.

In a wire fence machine, coilers, means to operate the coilers, stay-wire feeding means, guide blocks having wire receiving grooves therein and a series of springpressed balls embedded in the block and arranged at spaced intervals along the length of and communicating with the groove for engaging the wire at corresponding spaced points along the length of the groove l. In a wire fence machine, coilers, means to operate the coilers, stay-wire feeding means, and guiding means for the wires in cluding a series of spaced spring pressed balls disposed to engage a side of the wire at corresponding spaced points along its length, and means to engage the diametrically opposite side of the wire.

5. In a wire fence machine, coilers, means to operate the coilers, stay-wire feeding means, stay-wire guide blocks having openings therein, bushings arranged in the openings, means to removably secure the bushings in the openings, stay-wire-receiving tubes having one end thereof arranged in the basin ings of the guide blocks, and means cooperating with an end of the bushings to sever the stay-wire.

6. In a wire fence machine, in combination, a driving shaft, a timing shaft, a motor, means to operate the driving shaft from said motor, means to operate the timing shaft from the driving shaft, a winding drum, driving connections between the inding drum and the timing shaft, and regulating means in said driving connections for connecting and disconnecting the winding drum with the timing shaft.

7 In a wire fence machine, in combination, av driving shaft, a motor, means for operating the driving shaft from said motor, a winding drum, an intermediate shaft, driving connections between the intermediate and the driving shafts, a driving connection between said intermediate shaft and said winding drum, and a lever means in the driving connection between the intermediate shaft and the winding drum for controlling the connection and disconnection of said driving connections between said intermediate shaft and said winding drum.

8. In a wire fence machine, in combination, a driving shaft, a motor, driving connections between said motor and said driving shaft, a winding drum shaft, an intermedi ate shaft, driving connections between the intermediate and driving shafts, pulley wheels on the respective intermediate and winding drum shafts, a belt arranged to con nect said pulleys, a guiding roller for said belt to cause the latter to frictionally engage said pulleys, a lever means for adjusting said guiding roller, and spring means associated with said lever means.

9. In a wire fence machine, in combination, a driving shaft, a motor, driving connections between said motor and said driving shaft, a winding drum shaft, an intermediate shaft, driving connections between the intermediate and driving shafts, pulley wh els on the respective intermediate and winding drum shafts, a belt arranged to connect said pulleys, a guiding roller for said belt to cause the latter to frictionally engage said pulleys, means pivotally supporting said guiding roller, spring means to normally hold the guiding roller in operative position, and a lever means for moving the support ing means and guiding roller to different positions.

10. In a wire fence machine, in combination, a table or bed, spaced coiling heads rotatably mounted in said table, means for feeding strand wires through said coiling heads, guiding blocks disposed on the table between the coiling heads, each of said blocks provided with a wire guiding groove and also with an offset portion, wire guiding tubes connected with said offset portions of the guides, means for feeding stayfeed-wires through the grooves in the guides and through the guiding tubes and the offsets of said guides, said stay-feed-wires being fed respectively with portions lying on opposite sides of the strand wires passing through said coiling heads, a single means for severing a stay-section from each of the stay-feed-wires fed through the offsets of the guides and depressing the same on to the coiler heads, means to depress the forward ends of the stay-fecd-wires fed through the grooves in the guides on to the coiling heads, and means to intercoil the respective overlapping ends of the stay-sections around the strand wires.

11. In a wire fence machine, in combination, a table or bed, coilers rotatably mounted in said table, guiding blocks secured to the table between said coilers, each guiding block provided with a stay-feed-wire groove extending longitudinally thereof and opening out of their upper faces, an offset portion extending latterly from each guide, a wire guiding tube connected with each offset for the feeding of the stay-feed-wires therethrough, and ball-clamps in said guide 

